Mastering Your Mindset: How to Take Back Your LinkedIn Power – Part 1

Here’s a tough question for you.

Do you feel in control of LinkedIn, or do you feel it controls you?

If you answered yes to the first part, then you might be astonished at how many people feel they are being managed by the platform and influenced by the activities of individuals on it!

If you answered yes to the second part, then you should know that this belief is hindering your LinkedIn performance.

You’re letting false perceptions hold you back, and you’re missing opportunities as a result.

For the most part, like most things in life, its a lack of understanding that is at the root of your concerns.

Listen very closely to these next words.

The truth of the matter is that you are in control of LinkedIn at all times.

So how can you maximise this wonderful tool??????????????

You take control – of your mindset, specifically.

In this two-part article, we look at the FAC (frequently articulated complaints!) that I hear on a regular basis that you’re letting hold you back.

“My news feed is full of rubbish!”

Now, I’m not saying that the odd over-sharer post won’t crop up, but here’s the biblical truth: your news feed is under your control.

If you’re seeing content on your newsfeed from individuals or companies that you just can’t stand, then you can unfollow them!

If it’s a first-degree connection, you can unfollow them, but still maintain the connection status. Otherwise, you can remove the connection, or click that good old “I don’t want to see this” button. For a company, it’s even easier - just unfollow them. ?

If you’re participating on what I call “rogue” content, you’ll see more of the same. The algorithm will present you with more of what you spend time and engagement on.

So if you’ve unfollowed all the offending parties and you’re still seeing rubbish, it’s time to consider the consequences of your current LinkedIn habits.

“I don’t want to do what I see other people doing on LinkedIn!”

The good news is there’s no ‘one’ way to use LinkedIn. It’s entirely up to you.

But the absolute worst thing you can do is copy someone else. Why would you be a second-rate version of another person when you can be a first-rate version of yourself?

After all, your biggest competitor is you.

Your activity and participation on LinkedIn are fully under your command.

Stay true to your objectives (and values!). You are no way obligated to be influenced by others on the platform. For the most part they are followers of followers of followers. What would you rather be?

“Help! I don’t know where to start, it all looks a bit overwhelming!”

Think of LinkedIn like a busy gym.

The best place to start is to work out what you want to achieve through the platform. Like having a workout plan, you need to know who your audience is, what they need, and how your services/expertise aligns with them.

Then you work out which messages resonate, and work on sharing them. Now develop your profile so that it engages your audience, slowly build your network, and start engaging with posts. Start small and work up from there.

Too many are like the proverbial bull in the china shop, opting into a spray and “prey” culture. You don’t deserve to do that to yourself.

To guide your work on LinkedIn correctly, you need to know the why of what you do. In my experience, LinkedIn success starts off the platform. Success on LinkedIn starts ‘off’ the platform.

If you want to build a database of interesting and credible individuals, learn to research the platform, and seek to develop connections. That’s the easy bit! The pitfall for many is failing to really develop a nurturing strategy.

If you don’t want to build a network or be that visible, you don’t have to! You can leverage LinkedIn to review and gather intelligence for your nurturing strategy instead.

This point is critical regardless of your goals: you have to spend time on your personal profile if you want to see results of any kind.

Remember – it’s about your audience; not so much about you. If you have an empty, underwhelming profile with a naff picture of you from years ago, don’t expect to get many views or people to engage with you.

You’ll get passed over and you probably won’t even be aware. Accept the consequences or do something about it.

“LinkedIn is hard!!”

In the kindest possible way…what were you expecting? How did you get to where you are now? It probably wasn’t an effortless elevator ride, was it? No! You had to take the steps and struggle to earn your skills and success. ?

The good news is that LinkedIn isn’t actually difficult. It just requires a bit of strategic focus.

Because it takes a little bit of personal time and investment, however, people overlook it – and then they have the gall to complain that they don’t get results! What would you say to a junior employee who expected a promotion but never did the work?

Many people (but obviously not you, dear reader!) don’t want to make the effort.

Your profile should be first on your list. You never get a second chance at a first impression, so make sure that profile impression is outstanding.

The other side of LinkedIn; building databases, being more visible and engaging with the platform is relatively straightforward. But the prerequisite is a decent profile. Take this quick test to see how you measure up – and then start improving. There is no follow up by me.

“I don’t have the time!

This excuse is a classic. And you know what? The time will pass anyway – so why not invest it in yourself?

Your digital brand is absolutely essential in this day and age. People expect you to have one (whether you like it or not). It’s a vacuum you are obligated to fill.

So do yourself a solid, and make time. It’s really as simple as that. If you are on LinkedIn, you are already radiating energy – so choose what you radiate, for goodness’ sake. ?You put it there, no one else.

Beg, borrow, steal, or make the time to learn how to use LinkedIn well. Then work out what you need to do to get the best out of it. Once these things are in place, the actual implementation of what you need to do takes a fraction of the time you think it will.

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, this could range from using LinkedIn every other day to daily use, and anything from a few minutes to an hour. The choice is yours.

But wait, there’s more!

Muse on these for now and have a think about which of these complaints you identify with. If one of them causes a little niggle in your gut, that’s probably the one to consider.

Otherwise, sit tight for part two – and while you’re waiting, why not polish up that profile? You’ll thank me in the long run!

Miles Duncan?- founder b2b success systems. Transformative LinkedIn and CRM training for Professional Services

I set up my profile on LinkedIn in 2004 and fell in love with the platform. Since 2008 I have been helping organisations implement the rich resources of LinkedIn.

The perfect profile

Every two months I run a free 45 min profile build session at lunch time. The next one is Thursday 22nd June 2023, 12pm to 12.45pm.

You can book the next one here?https://www.b2bsuccesssystems.co.uk/free-events/

Team Training

For your team take a look at my website?b2bsuccesssystems.co.uk

You will also find I offer a complimentary no obligation, LinkedIn team orientation session that many companies have opted for, check it out here?b2bsuccesssystems.co.uk/teams

Group Training for Individuals

I run an 8-week LinkedIn high performance training program, its one hour per week live with me, very small group so it feels like 121.

You learn in small chunks...

Even if you can’t make one of the sessions, everything is recorded and emailed on to you that day. Plus on the 'Run' program open access to my eLearning platform.

Take a peek?https://startrunfly.co.uk/

Miles Duncan https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/milesduncan/

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